'Kerala school asks girl to remove headscarf'

A Class 7 student of a school in Thiruvanathapuram is under pressure to give up her headscarf if she wants to continue her studies in the institution.

Shammema was allegedly slapped by her teacher at St Philomena's Girls High School and asked to remove her headscarf.

Shammema has accused Sister Mercy Augustine of the harassment. "I attended the assembly wearing the scarf, after which Sister Mercy Augustine came to the class. She was looking for those wearing scarves," she said.

"I was the only one with the scarf and she asked me to get out of the class and remove the scarf. When I refused, she slapped and pinched me. She said this was a Christian school and I could go and study elsewhere," said Shammema.

Shameema said she was allowed to enter the class only after she promised she would not wear her headscarf to school again.

The police have lodged a case following a complaint by Shameema's parents. The initial probe has confirmed that the girl was asked to remove her headscarf.

The residents of Poonthura, where the school is located, claimed this was not the first time that the school had harassed girls for wearing headscarves.

But the school denied the allegations, saying there was no ban on wearing headscarves.

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